Eddie Redmayne has been set at the lead in a reimagining of Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel “The Day of the Jackal” at Peacock, Sky and Universal.
Redmayne will play the Jackal, an assassin who is hired by the French dissident organization OAS to kill the then-president of France Charles de Gaulle.
The famed 1973 film adaptation starred Edward Fox as The Jackal alongside Michel Lonsdale, Terence Alexander, Derek Jacobi and more. The British film scored multiple BAFTA nominations and an Oscar nomination. A loose 1997 remake starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere was released and widely panned.
Redmayne will also executive produce the thriller series. Ronan Bennett serves as showrunner whilst Brian Kirk directs. Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant and Sam Hoyle also executive produce.
Neame says in a statement: “We are excited to bring to life Ronan Bennett’s re-imagining of Forsyth’s revered thriller in the complex world in which we live today and are incredibly fortunate to have an actor of Eddie’s calibre as our Jackal. Paired with Ronan’s screenplay and Brian Kirk’s direction, this is a first-class creative team.”
Filming will take place later this year ahead of a 2024 airing with Peacock to premiere the series in the U.S. whilst Sky will handle the European release.
Source: Variety
